Early life

Thelma Louise Mandrell was born July 13, 1954[1] to Mary Ellen (née McGill; born 1931) and Irby Matthew Mandrell (1924 – 2009) in Corpus Christi, Texas.[2] She is the second of three daughters. Sister Barbara is five and a half years older; sister Irlene is one and a half years younger.
Her mother, Mary, was a homemaker and musician hailing from a large family in rural Wayne County, Illinois. Her father Irby was a World War II naval veteran and Texas police officer from Garland County, Arkansas. Irby Mandrell was an accomplished musician and entrepreneur as well. He used his impeccable social skills and knowledge of the music industry to manage all three of his daughters' careers for over 3 decades.

Although Louise Mandrell never developed the scale of fan base or the worldwide recognition that her older sister Barbara gained in country music, she is still credited as one of country music's more successful female vocalists of the 1980s. With their parents coming from a musical background, Barbara started off working as a singer, and playing the steel guitar and other instruments, and toured with Patsy Cline in the early 1960s.[3] Louise learned to play the guitar and bass. Soon, their parents founded the Mandrell Family Band, which toured the United States and Asia.

Barbara's professional recognition in country music in the early 1970s with hits like "Treat Him Right", "Show Me" and "The Midnight Oil" gave Louise opportunities at success. She started performing in Barbara's band The DoRites, which toured with Merle Haggard in the early 1970s.[citation needed] Her first time in the studio was on the recording "Always Wanting You", a no. 1 hit for Haggard in 1975.[citation needed] In 1978, Louise signed with Epic Records.

Music career

Mandrell released her first single in 1978, called "Put It On Me", which entered the top 100 country music singles in the USA.[citation needed] In 1979 she released her next single, a cover version of "Everlasting Love", which also entered top 100. She started singing duets with her husband R.C. Bannon, such as "I Thought You'd Never Ask," which entered the top 50, and a cover of the number one song by Peaches & Herb, "Reunited", which went to number 13, her first significant hit. In 1980, following two more solo efforts that did not see the same success, she joined sisters Barbara and Irlene on the TV variety showBarbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters. This show showcased not only her singing, but her multi-instrumental and comedy talents as well. In 1981, she signed with RCA Records. In 1982, Mandrell had two top 40 hits, as well as the top 20 hit "Some of My Best Friends Are Old Songs".

Mandrell's last studio album "Dreamin'" was released in 1987, with the single "I Wanna Hear It from Your Lips" and having her last top 40 hit with the single "Do I Have To Say Goodbye". Her last charted single came in 1988, a cover of the song "As Long As We Got Each Other", a duet with Eric Carmen.

RCA dropped Mandrell in 1988. During the 1990s she released the videos and songs "Jean Paul" and "Down Home Christmas".

Personal life

Her marriage to Ronald Shaw on July 1, 1971 ended in divorce in 1973. She subsequently married Gary Lamar Buck of the country music group The Four Guys on July 23, 1975. They later divorced in 1978.

In 1978, Mandrell met R.C. Bannon. They married on February 26, 1979. He would later co-write songs for Barbara. "One of a Kind, Pair of Fools" is a 1983 single written by Bannon and John Bettis and recorded by Barbara Mandrell. "Only One Love in My Life," written by R.C. Bannon and John Bettis, would be Ronnie Milsap's tenth number one.

Louise and R.C. adopted Nicole Mandrell Shipley in 1986. Louise was divorced from R.C. in 1991 and married John Haywood on July 16, 1993.

Louise became a grandmother for the first time in 2013.

Theater and writing

After leaving RCA Records, Mandrell continued to perform almost every day to packed houses.[citation needed] In 1991, TNN began re-airing the Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Show.

In 1983, Mandrell co-wrote the Mandrell Family Album with writer Ace Collins. Later, they produced a series of children's books.

In 2012, she performed the title role of "Calamity Jane" at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theatre in Fresno, California through September 16, 2012.

Later career

Mandrell continues to perform at selected special occasions and corporate events.[citation needed] In December 2007, she performed in Washington DC with the National Army band.[citation needed]

Over the Christmas and New Year holiday period 2008-2009, Mandrell performed at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for one month.[citation needed] The multi-instrumental dinner show was entitled "Joy To The World". Mandrell also announced her intention to create a new show in 2010, "The Gift".[citation needed]

In 2009, she signed with Strouadavarious Records and announced her intention to release an album of country classics and a Christmas-themed album.[citation needed]

During 2011 & 2012, Mandrell joined Lee Greenwood on selected tour dates, including a 6-week Branson run at the Welk Resort Theatre from September 12-October 22.[citation needed]

Louise's final Christmas Show at Gaylord Opryland titled "Louise Mandrell's Christmas Dinner Party" took place Nov 18-Dec 25 of 2011.

Commercial spokesperson

Louise was the spokesperson for Sanderson Farms' Miss Goldy's Chicken for 20 years, and for White Rain in the mid 1980s.

^Battle, Bob (December 17, 1996). "Louise Mandrell to add theater to Pigeon Forge". Nashville Banner. In the latest in a series of major entertainment features in the Smokies, singer Louise Mandrell plans to open her proposed 1,400-seat theater in the Music Road Entertainment Park at Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in the fall of 1997.|access-date= requires |url= (help)